Emile Geiser
Emile Geiser, his son, Emile-René Geiser, and grandson Maurice Geiser, were makers of watch barrel springs in La Chaux-de-Fonds from the turn of the century to the 1960s. Their "Fidélia" brand springs were widely advertised with images of lions and tigers. The elder Emile Geiser purchased the earlier firm of Charles Robert, a Geneva native who founded a company to make springs to power watches and music boxes in La Chaux-de-Fonds by 1864. Starting in 1928, Geiser claimed that the firm was established in 1780.
Chs Robert
The earliest listing for a maker of ressorts in La Chaux-de-Fonds named Charles Robert is in the 1867 edition of Indicateur Davoine. This is shown at Rue Léopold Robert 36, the same address shown for decades after. An advertisements in Le National Suisse in April 1869 supports this date.
Charles-Fritz Robert of Geneva was listed as a maker of watch springs when he married Louise-Mathilde-Adèle "Mathilda" Quartier-La Tente (about 1855-1913) of Neuchâtel on August 16, 1881. The couple, known formally by the alliance name Robert-Quartier, had a number of children, including Charles-Frédéric (October 1883-November 1892), André (October 1884), Henri-Auguste (January 1887-November 1914), and Georges (February 1888-September 1889).
Charles Fritz Robert from Geneva is listed in the 1883 registry of Swiss businesses as a maker of "ressorts de montres et de boîtes a musique". The company was called Chs Robert and was located at Rue Léopold Robert 36.
In May 1913, Henri-Auguste Robert (son of Charles Robert), Louise-Amanda Sengstag, and Mathilde Girard were given individual signature for the firm of Chs Robert. Charles' wife Mathilde Robert-Quartier died on August 8, 1913.
The company was deleted in March 1915, having been taken over by Emile Geiser.
Emile Geiser
Emile Geiser (about 1863-1935) registered the Fidélia brand name for watch springs on April 19, 1899. He was listed as a fabricant in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and the mark, which featured a stylized watch spring along with "Fidélia, EG, and Déposé", was registered for "ressorts de montres et leurs emballages."
Geiser was involved in the industry from the turn of the century, presiding over the Société des Fabricants de Ressorts de La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1902. An advertisement from that year shows him moving his factory and office to Rue de la Tuilerie 42 in April.
Emile Geiser took over the firm of Chs Robert in March 1915. The registration shows the owner as Emile-Adolphe Geiser from Langenthal living in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the address as Rue de la Tuìlerie 42.
On December 30, 1924 a new Société Anonyme was created called Fabrique de Ressorts Emile Geiser, successeur de Charles Robert. Initial share capital for the new firm was 30,000 francs, which included a payout of 22,000 francs to cover inventory and trademarks of the original company. Emile Geiser took 22 shares of the company (worth 22,000 francs) with the rest presumably acquired by investors. Geiser was the only member of the board. The company remained at Tuilerie 42.
Emile Geiser senior died on September 22, 1935. His wife, Julie Geiser née Mayer, died on November 6, 1943.
Emile-René Geiser
In 1935, following Emile Geiser's death, the company was taken over by his widow, Julie-Rosa Geiser (née Mayer). She assigned administration of the firm to Emile-René Geiser, his son. Known as René, he replaced his mother on the board in 1944, following her death.
No stranger to controversy, René Geiser was president of the Société Suisse des Fabricants de Ressorts and became a target of labor action in the 1920s. In 1924 he locked out his employees who were threatening a strike. He was also an avid supporter of gymnastics like his father and supported many organizations in the city.
René Geiser increased share capital of the firm to 50,000 francs in 1947 by increasing the value of each share to 1,666 francs. The company raised additional capital in April 1950 by issuing 60 additional shares worth 1000 francs each, for a total of 110,000 francs.
Maurice Geiser
On May 23, 1950 Emile-René Geiser resigned from the company. He was replaced by Maurice Geiser as director, with Maurice Vuilleumier appointed proxy. The firm issued an additional 40 shares worth 1,000 francs each on March 11, 1954, bringing total share capital to 150,000 francs. The firm changed its name to Fabrique de Ressorts de Montres Maurice Geiser SA on July 4, 1955.
On January 7, 1966, Maurice Geiser dissolved the firm. The company's trademarks (Fidelia, Lion, Tiger, and Charles Robert) were assigned to Groupement Suisse des Fabricants de Resorts d'Horlogerie on June 8, 1966.